Don’t Panic: Learn the Steps to Take After Being Arrested for and Charged with a DUI

Don’t Panic: Learn the Steps to Take After Being Arrested for and Charged with a DUIDUI arrests are not enjoyable to experience. Being faced with the possibility of being found guilty of a crime and even spending time in jail is extremely frightening and overwhelming for the majority of people. After being detained for a DUI, there are a number of crucial actions you can take to improve your case’s prospects for success.

While doing these actions won’t ensure that your case will end favorably, a DUI attorney will attest that skipping them can seriously harm your chances of winning. Continue reading to find out what you can do to improve your chances of a successful resolution to your California DUI case. Then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to request a free legal consultation.

Seek out important dates in your citation

If you are detained for a DUI, you will receive a citation outlining the charge or charges brought against you as well as the date of your arraignment. A court meeting called an arraignment gives you the chance to enter a guilty or not-guilty plea after the judge has read the allegations against you. It is mandatory that you show up for your arraignment; otherwise, the court may issue a bench warrant for your arrest or add another charge to the one you are already facing.

Sometimes after an arrest, the police won’t give you a citation; instead, it will be mailed to you. Make sure to constantly monitor your mail to avoid missing the citation. Once you get it, make a note of the court you must appear in and the date, time, and circumstances of your arraignment. When you meet with your DUI defense attorney as the following step, be sure to bring this document with you.

Consult a DUI attorney

As was already indicated, getting caught on a criminal charge, even a DUI, is stressful. Hiring a knowledgeable DUI defense attorney is one method to minimize your stress about the accusation and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.

A DUI conviction may negatively affect your life. Fines, license suspension, community service, probation, mandatory DUI school, and even jail time are possible punishments. Additional negative effects could include losing your work or not being able to find inexpensive insurance. The best course of action in a DUI case is to work with a skilled DUI attorney to assist you fight the accusations.

Numerous DUI attorneys provide free consultations during which you can learn more about the accusations made against you and the merits or otherwise of the prosecution’s case. An experienced DUI attorney will typically be able to negotiate a fair agreement to allow you to go on with your life as quickly as possible since they will have an excellent working connection with the court and the local prosecutors. Having legal attorney can frequently lead to the best results for your case and can lessen the effects of a DUI on your life.

Schedule a DMV hearing

You only have ten days from the time of your DUI arrest in California to obtain a hearing with the DMV. If you don’t ask for a hearing, your license will be suspended automatically. You will have the chance to present a case as to why your license shouldn’t be suspended if you do request a hearing.

An official from the DMV will hear the case at a hearing and decide if your license should be suspended and, if so, for how long. It is a distinct administrative case that has no bearing on your criminal case. However, this hearing can be used by your DUI attorney to gather information and assess any holes in the prosecution’s case.

Call the Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 or send an email to dchambers@clfca.com if you have been detained for a DUI in California. Free consultations are available, and we will vigorously defend your right to freedom.

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